This Friday’s matchday programme is packed full of interviews and exclusives including a chat with a very recent Wembley winner.
Former North End striker Brett Ormerod chats to The One And Only just days after picking up a winners’ medal with Wrexham under the arch on Sunday.
He speaks to the matchday programme about the Wembley experience, Wrexham’s push for promotion, his passion for his former clubs and more, but we couldn’t fit the whole thing in, so below is some of the other good stuff he has to say…
On his former team-mate Graham Alexander: “One of the scary things is that most of the players I played with are either managers or coaches now. I was chuffed to bits for Grezza when he got that job and I think he has done very well too. It’s his first role, it’s a very ambitious club and for their debut season they have done very well and I wish his and Chris Lucketti all the best.”
On his relationship with the fans of both Preston and Blackpool: “When I played for one club against the other, you are always going to get a bit of stick and banter, but that’s the nature of football, but on the whole I always got treated well at Preston. I really enjoyed my time there and I really got on with the fans and the same at Blackpool.
“Going straight back there from Preston could have meant I got a bit of stick, but I have been lucky in that I have always had a good rapport with both sets of fans. They are both fantastic football clubs and I want have always wished them both the best and really hope Preston get back in the Championship.
“The Preston-Blackpool derbies are always superb games to play in; they are brilliant for the fans and brilliant to watch and it would be nice if both clubs were doing well and they could play each other. As a fan you miss those games and there’s always a buzz as a player, even if you’re not involved. When people go to work they work with fans of the other club and it is good banter and it is what football is all about.”
On playing on as long as he can: “This is another thing I’ve tried to take from Graham Alexander; he had a fantastic career and he lasted a long time. I’m the wrong side of 36 at the moment, but I have another year left on my contract at Wrexham, which will take me to the wrong side of 37.
“While I am enjoying it, I am just keeping my head down and playing for as long as I can. I once got told ‘you are a long time retired’ and that’s what I’m trying to do. It is getting harder every year, because it’s a young man’s game is football and my body’s taking longer to recover, but I am still enjoying it.
“To get a Wembley appearance again and a winners’ medal justified to myself why I’m keeping playing and while there’s teams that want me and I feel like I can benefit them and they can benefit me and I’m enjoying it, then I will keep on going as long as I can.”
Read the rest in Friday’s 84-page perfect bound edition of the programme; it also includes an extended interview with Glynn Snodin, player chats with Joe Garner, Bailey Wright, Will hayhurst and club skipper John Mousinho.
We talk to former PNE and Pompey player and former team-mate of Sir Tom Finney, Peter Higham, as well as Portsmouth skipper Johnny Ertl in our 14 pages of content about the next opposition.
We have a special look back to The Gentry Day at Brentford with some reaction from Brentford and overseas fans, plus Nicky Wroe answers your questions, Ben Davies takes part in Starter For Ten and Declan Rudd is our centre spread poster.
All this and much, much more available for just £3 from the Club’s ticket and retail store from Thursday afternoon, inside and outside the stadium on matchday and online at www.mypne.com.